Earliest availability 25 Dec
Mr Manar Malki
Consultant Urological Surgeon
Specialist expertise: Urology, Kidney Stones, Prostate Cancer, Urological Cancer.
Testicular Cancer
Testicular cancer is a condition where cancer cells develop within the testicles. The majority of palpable lumps are malignant tumours which can spread to other parts of the body if they are not treated promptly. While not as common as other cancers, if caught early enough it is treatable.
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What is Testicular Cancer
Testicular cancer arises from uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells within one or both testicles. The testicles are a pair of male reproductive organs located within the scrotum. If left unchecked, testicular cancer can be a malignant cancer and spread to other parts of the body.
What are the symptoms of testicular cancer?
Testicular cancer is often detected through self-examination. Early symptoms can be subtle, so regular self-checks are crucial to identify cancer early. The most obvious symptom of testicular cancer is a painless lump in the scrotum, or a change in shape, consistency and size of the testicle. There are some other symptoms that can indicate you have testicular cancer:
- Pain in the scrotum, lower back, or lower abdomen
- Shortness of breath
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Headaches
- Breast tissue growth (caused by secretion of certain hormones)
If you notice any of these symptoms, schedule an appointment with a urologist for evaluation. Early detection is key to successful treatment.
What causes Testicular Cancer?
Certain factors increase your risk of developing testicular cancer. These include:
- Undescended Testicles: If one or both testicles fail to descend into the scrotum before birth and either remain in the wrong place or have required surgery to bring them dowm into the scrotum (orchidopexy) then this is a risk factor for testicular cancer.
- Family History: Having a father or brother with a history testicular cancer puts you at higher risk.
- Male Infertility: Men who are struggling to start a family and have impaired semen parameters have a higher risk of testicular cancer.
- HIV Infection: Men with HIV have a slightly increased risk of developing testicular cancer.
How is testicular cancer diagnosed?
Diagnosis of testicular cancer typically involves a combination of approaches:
- Physical Exam: The doctor will feel the testicles for abnormal lumps.
- Ultrasound: An ultrasound of your testes can be used to detect abnormalities.
- Blood Tests: Certain blood tests may be used to support a cancer diagnosis as they detect changes in the testicular cancer tumour makers.
How can testicular cancer be treated?
The course of treatment depends on several factors like cancer stage, location in the testes, and overall health. The good news is testicular cancer has a high cure rate, with treatment options including:
- Surgery: An orchiectomy will surgically remove the affected testicle. A prosthetic testicle can also be used to replace the one that has been removed. Often this is all that is required. In some cases where there is a small lesion detected, a more specialised approach using a targeted excision can be performed as the majority of small (<1cm) lesions detected incidentally are benign. This preserves the remaining testicle.
- Chemotherapy: Depending on the aggressiveness and size of the tumour, chemotherapy may also be required following surgery.
Men’s health specialists
Our men’s health consultants are experts in male-specific medical conditions. With decades of combined experience and knowledge on male health problems, our consultants are specialists in managing your diagnosis, treatment, and recovery in an effective and comfortable manner.
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